Hooks Family's Dogtrot Home, c1910

The picture, taken about 1910, near Romance, Arkansas, shows the family of William Asbury Hooks and his wife Rebecca Ann.  He is the man with the long beard on the left end.   Asbury, as he was called, was born in Georgia in 1844.  His father moved the family to Columbia County, Arkansas in the 1850s.>

On February 26, 1862, Asbury enlisted in Company B of the 19^th Arkansas Infantry (Dockery’s).  He was captured by Union troops at the battle of Vicksburg in May 1863, then sent to Ft. Delaware prison. He was exchanged on Christmas day of 1863 and returned to his unit, which was stationed at Shreveport when the war ended.

Rebecca Ann was the daughter of Eldridge Myatt, who was born in Tennessee and moved to Arkansas in the late 1840s. He initially settled in Calhoun County and later filed a claim for a land grant in Columbia County, Arkansas in 1852.

Asbury and Rebecca were married on November 22, 1866, in Columbia Columbia County and became the parents of nine children.   Subsequently, Eldridge Myatt and Asbury Hooks moved their families to White County and settled in Marshall Township, where they were listed in the 1880 census.   Asbury was a farmer and his home was located a couple of miles southwest of Romance at the southwest corner of the intersection of Highways 5 and 310. 

Asbury died in 1922 and Rebecca in 1924. They and many other family members are buried in the Romance Cemetery.

In the picture, Asbury and Rebecca Ann are on the left end. Their youngest son, Kenny Lester Hooks, is on the far right end. Between are several of their childrens’ families in four groupings.

The group next to Rebecca is her daughter Cora with husband William Hill. Standing in front of them are their children Gladys, Chester (father of Jerry Hill, who provided this photograph and information to the White County Historical Society) and Reuben. 

The next grouping is Edmond Hooks with son Byron in his arms and wife Nancy.  Son Lance is standing in front of her. 

Next is James Ummie Hooks with son Arless in his arms standing next to wife Odeal. Children Clarence and Rhena are standing in front of them. 

Next are Vernon Hooks with daughter Addie standing in front.  His wife, Addie, is next to him holding their daughter Mary Lee.

Hooks children missing from the picture are the oldest daughter Martha, son William who died in 1895 at age 26,  son Thomas born in 1897 and son A.H. who died in 1889 at age 6.

The picture was taken in front of what appears to be a new house that eventually became the home of Kenny Lester Hooks.  The clues to the newness are the appearance of the mortar on the chimney and the shake roof. Note how the house was built in the traditional dogtrot style with the open gallery through the middle of the house.